I. Pre-Session arrangements

Visas

Where necessary, delegates, and representatives of international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the media are responsible for obtaining any required visas for entry into the Netherlands. Visas may be obtained from a diplomatic or consular mission of the Netherlands.

Annex A lists countries whose nationals are required to obtain a visa for entry into the Netherlands; Annex B covers those whose nationals are not.

Delegates whose country of residence does not have a consular mission in the Netherlands may obtain a visa from the mission of another country that is also party to the Schengen Agreement and that is responsible for issuing visas on behalf of the Netherlands. For a list of the Schengen countries, please refer to the footnote in Annex B.

Delegates who experience difficulties in obtaining a visa should contact the Secretariat’s Protocol and Visa Branch, either by telephone at +31 (0)70 416 3820 or +31 (0)70 416 3777; fax at +31 (0)70 416 3044, or by e-mail at visa@opcw.org.

Registration

Each participating State Party is requested to send to the Secretariat the name and designation of each participating member of its delegation no later than Monday, 18 November 2013.

Participants are urged to register as soon as possible after their arrival in The Hague. For participants who arrive early or who are based in The Hague, pre-registration will be possible between 10:00 - 18:00 on Friday, 29 November 2013 in the lobby of the OPCW Headquarters. The registration desk at the World Forum will be open between 10:00 - 17:00 on Sunday, 1 December 2013, and throughout the Conference between 09:00 and 18:00.

Upon registration, delegates for whom the Secretariat has received an appropriate official communication from the relevant government authorities will be issued an OPCW access badge for the duration of the Conference. Also delegates who already hold an OPCW access badge will be issued a Conference access badge.

Access badges must be worn visibly at all times in the Conference area and will be required as identification at official OPCW venues other than the World Forum.

The Secretariat contact for registration is the Protocol and Visa Branch.

Credentials

The credentials of each representative and the names of the persons constituting the State Party’s delegation shall be submitted to the Director-General no later than Monday, 25 November 2013.

For the credentials to be considered by the Credentials Committee, delegations may choose to deliver them in person to the Credentials Officer in the External Relations Division (ERD) office in the World Forum either on Sunday, 1 December between 14:30 and 17:00, or ultimately on Monday, 2 December between 10:00 and 13:00.

Credentials are required only of the representative of each State Party, and not of additional members of the delegation.